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I apologise to patients who wait longer than they should, I have done so in the past. I regard it as appropriate and proper that I should do so

Paul Gray

Mr Gray told Holyrood's Health Committee that while the health budget had increased, he did not think it unreasonable to ask boards to make efficiency savings.

Its convener, Labour's Neil Findlay, quizzed Mr Gray overe the audit, asking if he thought it was a "glowing endorsement" of NHS management.

The health chief said he was "not after glowing endorsements" and added that he accepted the recommendations of the "balanced" report.

Mr Gray added: "I apologise to patients who wait longer than they should, I have done so in the past. I regard it as appropriate and proper that I should do so.

"It is not what we seek that patients should wait longer than the targets that we have set, but if I may say on the eight targets we are, as far as I can determine and I have done some research, the only country in the world that tries to meet all eight of

these targets."

His appearance came as figures showed the Scottish Government still failing to hit to hit bed blocking and casualty waiting time targets.

Last year Ms Robison said the problem of patients left languishing on wards when they are ready to leave would be completely abolished.

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Figures showed the Scottish Government is still failing to hit bed blocking

The integration of health and social care services in April was meant to ensure more people, particularly the elderly, could be looked after at home.

But the number of patients delayed is still rising - from 1,472 in August to 1,524 in September.

Official statistics also showed 45,074 days were spent in hospital by delayed patients in September - slightly down from 45,551 the previous month.

And in the week ending October 30, 92.4 per cent of of Scotland's 25,393 A&E patients were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours - below the Scottish Government's interim target of 95 per cent.

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People-mainly elderly-were supposed to be looked after at home under plans made for care services

Ms Robison told MSPs that progress against waiting targets should be viewed in the context of increasing funding, but also rising demand.

Later responding to the delayed discharge figures she said the government was spending £30million a year over three years to speed up improvements.

Her spokesman added: "Ms Robison has expressed regret if any patient's care fallen short of the high standards we expect.

"Perhaps the Lib Dems would now like to apologise for propping up a Tory Government that slashed Scotland's block grant, instigated the most brutal welfare cuts in living memory and harmed the physical and mental health of some of the most vulnerable people in our society."

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Alex-Cole Hamilton said it was right the Cabinet Secretary also apologised

Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: "While it is welcome that Paul Gray has apologised, the real blame here lies at the feet of the SNP.

"They've had nearly a decade to take action yet have done nothing, and it's time for Shona Robinson to apologise for the mess the SNP have created."

Alex-Cole Hamilton for the Lib Dems added: "Now it's important that the Cabinet Secretary to follow suit and offer the same apology to patients herself over the mess she has presided over."

The Scottish Government has asked former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns to conduct a review of NHS targets and indicators.